Can I transplant a holly bush?
Q. I planted a blue holly several years ago and now realize that it is too big for the location. I don’t want to spend the rest of my days severely pruning this plant back, just to keep it inbounds. I would prefer to relocate it to a spot with more room to grow. How do I go about transplanting my holly and when is the best time? A. It can be tricky to move a plant once it has become established in a site, but it is possible. Take a minute to evaluate the new site to be certain that it meets the holly’s cultural preferences: full sun to partial shade; evenly moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil; and an eastern exposure to avoid winter leaf burn and summer heat stress. And of course, make sure there is adequate room for the holly’s growth. Depending on the cultivar, blue hollies (Ilex x meserveae) grow about eight feet tall with a matching spread. Moving established plants is risky because you lose the majority of the fine feeder roots responsible for absorbing water and nutrients fro
Q. I planted a blue holly several years ago and now realize that it is too big for the location. I don’t want to spend the rest of my days severely pruning this plant back, just to keep it inbounds. I would prefer to relocate it to a spot with more room to grow. How do I go about transplanting my holly and when is the best time? A. It can be tricky to move a plant once it has become established in a site, but it is possible. Take a minute to evaluate the new site to be certain that it meets the holly’s cultural preferences: full sun to partial shade; evenly moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil; and an eastern exposure to avoid winter leaf burn and summer heat stress. And of course, make sure there is adequate room for the holly’s growth. Depending on the cultivar, blue hollies (Ilex x meserveae) grow about eight feet tall with a matching spread. Moving established plants is risky because you lose the majority of the fine feeder roots responsible for absorbing water and nutrients fro
